Tag: roster bubble

Former USFL standout Maurice Alexander makes his case for roster spot against Colts

Former USFL standout Maurice Alexander makes his case for a Detroit Lions roster spot against Colts with great returns

In the second preseason game for the Detroit Lions, wide receiver and return specialist Maurice Alexander has started to emerge as a player to watch.

Alexander, who began his professional career with the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars in the spring of 2022, signed with the Lions just seventeen days ago and is already making a name for himself.

In the second quarter against the Colts, Alexander took a kickoff return 61 yards before being hit out of bounds. With some solid blocking by his fellow special teamers, he was able to make two defenders miss before being tackled at the opposing 45-yard line.

On the very next kickoff, he took the ball for another long run of 46 yards before being taken down.

In the first half of the game, he recorded just one reception for four yards on offense. On special teams, however, he had four kickoff returns for 156 yards and an average of 38 yards per return.

What was most notable about his performance is that he got the nod at kick and punt returner over players who held those roles last year, such as Godwin Igwebuike and Kalif Raymond.

Alexander initially went undrafted in 2020 out of FIU and didn’t play again until he was drafted by the Stars in the inaugural USFL draft. With Philadelphia, he was named an all-USFL player for his performances both on offense and special teams.

10 Lions roster bubble players to watch vs. Colts

These are 10 Lions players who can really help–or hurt–themselves in the quest to make the final 53-man roster in the second preseason week.

After the first round of cuts, 85 players remain on the Detroit Lions as they enter the second week of preseason. The opportunities to impress are getting shorter with the week in Indianapolis for the Lions’ first road game of the exhibition season. For the players on the roster bubble, it’s rapidly approaching now-or-never time.

Saturday’s preseason game at Lucas Oil Field (1 p.m. ET) is the fiery crucible in which true winners are forged, but the coaching staff is also keenly watching the joint practices at the Colts training facility in Grant Park north of Indianapolis.

These are 10 Lions players who can really help–or hurt–themselves in the quest to make the final 53-man roster in the second preseason week.

Saints roster bubble: 10 players who need a big game vs. Texans

Strong rosters like the Saints’ put a lot of players on the bubble, but their biggest competition may come at wide receiver, via @RossJacksonNOLA

As the preseason kicks off, this is an opportunity for many to realize their dreams of being NFL players. On strong rosters like the New Orleans Saints, those chances can be slim. The wide receiver room is a prime example in New Orleans. With Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry, Chris Olave and Deonte Harty all seemingly locks, there may only be one spot remaining for a slew of talented pass-catches. But that won’t stop the remaining wideouts from doing everything that they can to turn their dream into reality. Here are ten players, including some of those receivers, who need a big game on the road against the Houston Texans to keep their NFL ambitions alive.

4 Chiefs on the roster bubble who need a strong preseason Week 1

These four #Chiefs players need to have strong performances vs. the #Bears in preseason Week 1.

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to face the Chicago Bears in preseason Week 1.

This is one of the more competitive 90-man offseason rosters that the Chiefs have fielded in recent years. There are plenty of players who are talented enough to make the 53-man roster, but they aren’t all yet locks to make the team. Several players who are on the roster bubble will need a strong performance in the preseason in order to make their case. That will all start against the Bears on Saturday, in a game where the starters are expected to play their least amount of snaps of the entire preseason.

Here’s a look at four players on the roster bubble who need a strong performance against the Bears in preseason Week 1:

16 players on roster bubble to watch during Packers’ preseason opener

These 16 players need to impress when the Packers open the preseason schedule on Friday in San Francisco.

The Green Bay Packers open the preseason schedule on Friday night in San Francisco against the 49ers. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers won’t play, leaving Jordan Love to start, but Rodgers won’t be the only starter not playing. Expect Matt LaFleur to lean heavily on the backups. He needs players at certain positions to start separating from the pack and winning roster spots. There’s no better time to make an impression than when the lights come on in a game environment.

Here are 16 players on the roster bubble worth watching on Friday night:

RB Tyler Goodson: There’s a legit opportunity available at running back, where Kylin Hill remains on the PUP list and Patrick Taylor missed time with a groin injury. Goodson’s burst and receiving ability need to shine during the games, starting Friday.

WR Juwann Winfree: Numbers are tight at receiver. Winfree is experienced and steady, and he has the trust of Rodgers in the No. 1 offense. He’ll still need to be productive catching the football from Love this preseason to make the team.

WR Samori Toure: The rookie seventh-rounder enjoyed a big night at Family Night, so momentum is certainly on his side. If the Packers keep seven receivers, the battle might come down to Winfree vs. Toure.

TE Sal Cannella: The former USFL star hasn’t made much noise so far at camp, and the Packers have at least four healthy tight ends they like entering the preseason. Now’s the time to make a move for Cannella.

OL Cole Van Lanen: While the Packers await the return of David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins, Van Lanen has a real chance to win a job as the ninth offensive lineman. Expect him to get snaps at left and right tackle during the preseason.

DL Jonathan Ford: The Packers run five-deep along the defensive line, but Ford has flashed during camp. His size and strength could really pop off the screen in run defense during the preseason. Can he force the Packers to keep six?

OLBs Jonathan Garvin/Tipa Galeai/La’Darius Hamilton: Garvin and Hamilton are starting to come on here as of late. The Packers probably need three backups at edge rusher, so all three are worth watching this preseason. Two need to step up and prove they can be capable, every-week backups at a key position.

LB Isaiah McDuffie: His spot on the team looks increasingly secure as the No. 4 linebacker. Don’t be surprised if he’s one of the stars of the preseason; he’ll play a lot, and make a lot of tackles, both on defense and special teams.

CB Rico Gafford: He’s right in the mix at backup cornerback, but the former receiver needs to impress during the games to make the 53-man roster. He’ll get plenty of reps at corner and on special teams, including as a returner.

S Shawn Davis/Vernon Scott: Davis came into camp as the slight favorite to be the No. 3 safety, but Scott has passed him through the first two weeks. The two could be fighting for one roster spot.

S Tariq Carpenter: There have been some struggles adjusting to coverage in the NFL. The seventh-rounder needs to show more at safety and on special teams or he’s likely headed for the practice squad.

LS Jack Coco/Steven Wirtel: Both have been disappointing during camp. Unless one turns it around, especially in a game environment, the Packers might have to look elsewhere for the Week 1 long snapper.

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1 Colts player from each position on the roster bubble

A look at one player from each position on the roster bubble.

The Indianapolis Colts are set to return for training camp in just a few weeks where the team will begin competing heavily to trim the roster down to 53 players.

While the foundation of the spring workouts has been laid out, the real work comes during training camp and the preseason. This is typically the time when jobs and roster spots are won.

Each position will have wild cards and players on the roster bubble entering training camp.

Here’s a look at one player from each position on the roster bubble entering Colts’ training camp:

Packers veterans on roster bubble at each position group following 2022 draft

Who is on the roster bubble in Green Bay following the 2022 NFL draft? We run it down, position by position.

The draft provides an influx of new players and talent to each NFL roster. There’s a flipside to the additions: competition rises internally within specific positions, and holdover players are suddenly put on the roster bubble.

The Green Bay Packers made 11 picks during the 2022 draft, creating instant competition across the roster.

Here’s a player or two on the roster bubble at each position group following the draft:

Lions roster bubble watch: 5 players who revamped their roster stock

With the final preseason game in the books, the Detroit Lions have tough decisions to make and these 5 players did not make it any easier

Even though the Detroit Lions failed to notch a preseason win after a 27-17 loss to Indianapolis Colts, you can tell this team will give you every ounce they got and fight till the very end.

On Friday night, with the majority of the starters sitting out, it gave roster bubble players a chance to give one final push to try to persuade the coaching staff they deserve a spot on the 53-man roster. With one last opportunity, many players seized that chance to showcase what they can bring to the table.

With some tough decisions ahead for the coaching staff, some players did not make it easy for them. Here are five players who improved their odds after their preseason performance against the Colts.

4 Chiefs on the roster bubble who need a strong preseason Week 3

These four #Chiefs players need to have strong performances vs. the #Vikings in preseason Week 3.

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to face the Minnesota Vikings in preseason Week 3.

Once again, the starters are scheduled to play a full half of football, which means that players on the roster bubble will get about as much time as they had last week to impress. With just one game to go, very little has been decided when it comes to the available roster spots in Kansas City. There are still several players in need of a standout performance in order to keep themselves in the hunt for a 53-man roster spot.

Here’s a look at four players on the roster bubble who need a strong performance against the Vikings in preseason Week 3:

Saints roster bubble: Which players helped their case vs. Jaguars?

Saints roster bubble: Which players helped their case vs. Jaguars?

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The next wave of NFL roster cuts is just hours away, meaning the New Orleans Saints must continue to whittle down their depth chart from 85 players to just 80. Next week’s final deadline will see teams trim down to the 53-player limit for the regular season, which raises the pressure on players on the roster bubble across the league.

So these preseason games are great opportunities to build a case for a job. And several Saints players on the bubble seized their chance with both hands. Here is who impressed during New Orleans’ win against the Jacksonville Jaguars: